‘I Feel the Weight on My Shoulders’: Vijay Deverakonda Marks 10 Years in Cinema With an Emotional Note

Hyderabad: Vijay Deverakonda has completed 10 years as a lead actor in the Telugu film industry, and the milestone has prompted the star to look back on the journey that transformed him from an aspiring newcomer into one of South India's most popular actors. Celebrating a decade since the release of Pelli Choopulu on July 29, 2016, Vijay shared an emotional message on X (formerly Twitter) along with behind-the-scenes photos and videos from the film's shoot. A Decade of Gratitude In his heartfelt post, Vijay reflected on how much his debut breakthrough meant to him. "10 years. Something feels very strange about reading that 10 years ago we all met in the theatres... Something feels very heavy," he wrote. The actor recalled how Pelli Choopulu gave confidence to a young dreamer who dared to believe in himself despite the challenges. He also expressed his deep affection for his Telugu audience, crediting them for supporting him throughout his career. An Emotional Tribute Vijay used the occasion to remember and thank the people who played an important role in the success of Pelli Choopulu. He shared an emotional message for Tharun, expressing how much he misses him and calling him "one precious soul." He also thanked the entire cast and crew for helping create a film that went on to earn two National Film Awards. 'Life Is Full, But I Feel Different' While reflecting on the passage of time, Vijay admitted that he no longer feels like the carefree young man who entered the industry ten years ago. "Today I am no longer the free young boy. Life is full, but I feel the weight on my shoulders," he wrote. The actor added that moving forward, he wants every project to come straight from the heart, saying that personal passion now matters more than any external measure of success. He concluded by thanking his directors, family, friends, and his loyal fanbase, affectionately known as the RWDY community. From Pelli Choopulu to Stardom After the success of Pelli Choopulu, Vijay Deverakonda became a household name with Sandeep Reddy Vanga's blockbuster Arjun Reddy. He later delivered memorable performances in films including: Mahanati Geetha Govindam Dear Comrade These films cemented his place among the leading stars of Telugu cinema. Recent Films and Upcoming Projects Vijay was last seen in The Family Star (2024) and Kingdom (2025). While both films received mixed reviews and underperformed at the box office, the actor also made cameo appearances in Kalki 2898 AD and Sing Geetham. He is currently working on Ravi Kiran Kola's Rowdy Janardhana, which stars Keerthy Suresh as the female lead. Vijay also has Rahul Sankrithyan's Ranabaali in the pipeline, where he will reportedly share screen space with Rashmika Mandanna. As he steps into the next chapter of his career, Vijay Deverakonda's emotional message reflects not only gratitude for the past decade but also his determination to continue evolving as an actor.